Exercise machine



March 5, 1963 BUSH EXERCISE MACHINE I Filed Dec. 26, 1961 INVENTOR.59,9040 8051/ United States This invention relates to-an exercisemachine and more particularly to a powered device operative to exertforces upon various portions of the users trunk. The therapeutic valueof exercises such as lifting weights or chinning wherein forces arerepeatedly applied to the participants arms and trunk is wellrecognized, and form an integral part of many calisthenics and bodybuilding programs. Previous machines have been devised for exercisessuch as rowing which allow the participant to perform arm and trunkexercises from a comfortable position. In these past machines, theparticipant has normally exerted the powering force which is absorbed inthe devices mechanism. These machines are all passive in construction.The present invention is founded upon the concept that an active machinewherein the participant absorbs the powering force rather thangenerating it allows a wider variety of possible exercises as well as afuller range of exercise force.

The present invention provides a basic rotary motion of a horizontal barwhich the user may make contact with in a variety of ways so as toprovide a range of exercising.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which will besubsequently described in detail, the bar is supported in the horizontalplane and rotatably journaled at each of its ends to crank members whichare rotated by an electric motor. The height of the bar mechanism isadjustable with respect to a user supporting base. The base takes theform of a plurality of rolls disposed in the horizontal plane with theiraxes parallel to that of the exercise bar. The bar is supported adjacentto one end of the rolls so that the participant may either supporthimself on the rolls or on the opposite side of the floor from therolls. It is therefore seen to be the primary object of the presentinvention to provide an exercise device for use in connection with thearms and trunk which is simple in construction and capable of use in avariety of positions.

Other objects, advantages and applications of the pres ent inventionwill be made apparent by the following detailed description of twoembodiments of the invention. The description makes reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the exercisedevice;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along lines22 of that figure;

FIG. 3 is a section through the gear mechanism taken along lines 3-3 ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of an exercise bar which represents analternative embodiment of the invention.

The exercise device is supported on a floor by a pair of base membersdisposed parallel to one another and joined, slightly inwardly of theirends, by a pair of transverse roll support members 12. A number of rollmembers 14 are disposed with their ends rotatably journalled in themembers 12 in the rectangular space bordered by the members 10 and 12.These rolls 14 all have their axes parallel to one another and to thebase members 10. The separation between the rolls 14 is just sufiicientto allow each to rotate independently.

A pair of vertical support members 16 are attached to the roll supportmembers 12 adjacent to one of the base members 10 by a pair of brackets18. At their upper ends, the vertical members 16 are joined by a crossmember 20 so as to form a rigid framework.

The exercise bar comprises a circular rod 22 which is atent Eggjournalled at each of its ends in bearings 24 which are afiixed to edgesof disc shaped crank members 26 and 28. The disc 28 is rotatablysupported on an axle 30 which extends from an adjustable support bracket32 wrapped about one of the vertical members 16. The bracket 32 isslidable along the vertical support 16 and may be adjusted to anyposition by a lock screw 34.

The disc 26 is attached to an axle 36 which is rotatable within ahousing 38. A gear 40 is also attached to the axle 36 and is in meshwith a second gear 42 also supported within the housing. The gear 42 isconnected to a shaft of an electric motor 44 that is supported on thehousing 38. The housing 38 is movable vertically along support member 16by means of an adjustable bracket 46 which may be fixed by a lock screw48.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate form of exercise bar which may be usedin connection with the present invention. A bar 50 is fixed between apair of discs 52 which form the exact equivalents of the discs 26 and 28and are powered in the same manner. While the bar 50 is not rotatablewith respect to the discs 52, it contains a pair of dished grip handles54 which surround the bar and are rotatable with respect to it.

An exerciser may make use of the present invention in any of severalways. In one manner of use he may occupy a sitting position on top ofthe rolls 14 facing the bar 22 and grasping it with his palms in anupward position. The motor 44 is then energized by suitable circuitry(not shown) so as to cause the disc 28 to rotate at a lower speed thanthe motor 44 as a result of the reduction provided by the gears 40 and42. The resultant orbiting of the bar 22 about the centers of suspensionof the discs .26 and 28 causes forces of alternating direction to beapplied to the arms of the exerciser and to be transmitted through histrunk to the rolls 14. The frictional resistance of the rolls causesreaction forces upon the muscles of the ex erciser.

When utilizing the embodiment of FIG. 4, the exerciser graps the members54 rather than the bar itself.

A wide variety of other exercise may be performed in connection with theapparatus of the invention. By way of example, the exerciser may eitherstand or sit on the floor on the opposite side from the vertical member16 than the rolls occupy. He is then in a position to apply greaterforces to resist the rotation of the exercise bar 22.

By adjusting the height of the brackets 32 and 46 along the bars 16, theapparatus may be adjusted to various heights for the performance ofdifferent exercises and for the accommodation of exercising ofdifi'erent physical statures.

It is also within the contemplation of the present invention to provideadjustable speed or adjustable torque mechanism immediately adjacent themotor 44 and the exercise bar 22 or 50. Other variations on theapparatus may be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an exercise machine, of the type described, in combination: abase; a pair of vertical support members extending upwardly from saidbase; a rotary drive mechanism adjustably fixed to one of said verticalsupports; a first crank member rotated by said drive mechanism; a secondcrank member adjustably supported on the other vertical support; and abar having its end-s afiixed to the two crank members so as to cause itto rotate about a center displaced from and parallel to its axis.

2. In an exercise machine, of the type described, in combination: arectangular base; a plurality of rolls disposed with their axes parallelto one another in the horizontal plane affixed to said base; a pair ofvertical support members rising from opposite sides of said baseadjacent to the opposite ends of one of the extremely positioned rolls;a

3 rotary drive mechanism afiixed to one of said support members; ahorizontal bar having its ends coupled to said support members; andmeans, driven by said rotary drive s ha aus n said. horiz n ba t or bo'hc i nt is- ;3.,In an exercise machine, of the type described, incombination: a rectangular base; a plurality of rolls disposedwith theiraxes parallel to one another in the horilzonta'l plane afiixed to saidbase; a. pair of verticalsupport members rising from opposite sides ofsaid base adjacent to the opposite ends of one of the extremelypositioned rolls; a rotary drive mechanism afilxed to one of saidsupportmembers; a horizontal bar having its ends coupled to i horizontal axis;and a pair of grips rotatably aflixed to spaced points on saidhorizontal bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSVanderboss July 13, 1909 Clark Aug. 11, '19573 Berne Oct. 11, 1960'

1. IN AN EXERCISE MACHINE, OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED, IN COMBINATION: ABASE; A PAIR OF VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAIDBASE; A ROTARY DRIVE MECHANISM ADJUSTABLY FIXED TO ONE OF SAID VERTICALSUPPORTS; A FIRST CRANK MEMBER ROTATED BY SAID DRIVE MECHANISM; A SECONDCRANK MEMBER ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTED ON THE OTHER VERTICAL SUPPORT; AND ABAR HAVING ITS ENDS AFFIXED TO THE TWO CRANK MEMBERS SO AS TO CAUSE ITTO ROTATE ABOUT A CENTER DISPLACED FROM AND PARALLEL TO ITS AXIS.